Pumping mechanism



Aug. 22, 1944.

C. E. BRIDWELL PUMPING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 13, 1941 1N VENT OR.

Patented Aug. 22, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a pumping mechanism and particularly the valve mechanism relating thereto. It is an object of the present invention to provide a pumping mechanism and a Valve cage which will be simple in structure, economical of manufacture, durable, compact and highly em.. cient in use.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a pumping mechanism of the valve mechanism permitting a maximum flow of liquid.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in a pump, of a valve mechanism whereby the seat of the valve and the valve seat Will be washed by the liquid being pumped.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a pumping mechanism, of a Valve structure so arranged and constructed that the valve is guided in its movements and provided with a bypass whereby the liquid is permitted to be bypassed through the valve, around the valve seat. v

Another object of the inventio-n is the provision of a pumping mechanism and a valve structure so arranged and constructed that the valve is guided in its movements above and below the seat while provided with a bypass providing a passage of liquid through and around the valve.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a pumping mechanism so constructed and arranged that it may be easily removed and replaced.

Another object of the invention is the provin sion in a pumping mechanism of a valve that may be free torotate while in use, thus eliminating sand cutting o-n the valve faces, thus assuring even distribution of wear on contacting parts.

Another object o the invention is the provision in a pumping mechanism, of a plunger having a valve cage formed in its end and provided with a valve mounted therein, cooperating with a valve seat carried by the plunger. Other objects will appear hereinafter. v

It is recognized that various modications and changes may be made in the detail of the structure illustrated without departing from the invention and it is intended that such changes shall be brought within the scope of the claims forming a part hereof.

Forming a part of this specification is a drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional view of a pump structure embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, central, sectional View of a continuation of the pump structure shown in Fig. l, with intermediate parts broken away and removed.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, central, sectional view of a pump structure embodying the invention forming a continuation of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2 with intermediate parts broken away and removed.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a central, longitudinal, fragmentary, sectional view showing a slightly modified form of the structure illustrated in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, central, longitudinal, sectional View showin-g a slightly modified form of a part of the structure illustrated in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig, 3 of the drawing I have indicated ya well tubing I1. In Figs. 5 and 6 this well tubing I1 has not been shown. Positioned within the tubing I1 and spaced therefroml is a pump barrel or cylinder I8 which may be either stationary or travelingA and which, in the structure illustrated is intended to be stationary. Slidably mounted as a snug t in the pump barrel I8 is a plunger I9 having a bore 5| formed therethrough. Threaded onto the upper end of the plunger I9 is the tubular member 2E! which serves to form a valve cage having a head 2| which is provided with a valve face 22. Extending upwardly from the head 2l is the tubular portion 23, terminating in the guide neck 24 in which slidably engages the rod 25. The rod 25 is provided with the threaded portion 26 which is connected to the pump rod 2l by means of the threaded nuts 28, 29 and 30. Thispump rod 21 serves as a means whereby reciprocation will be imparted to the plunger. The rod 25 is connected by the reduced rod 3l to the head 32 which serves as a valve and which bears, at its end face, against the valve seat 22. The member 32 is cut away as at 33 so that there is a space 35 between the periphery of the member 32 and the inner surface of the cage portion 20. The interior of the member 32 which may be said to be formed cup shaped is in communication with the space 35 through openings 34 formed in the member 32. Between the end of the member 32 and the end of the plunger I9 is a space 35. The portion 2| is provided with a bore 36 therethrough to establish communication with the interior of the neck 23 which in turn communicates through the openings 31 with thespace 38 around the neck 23. Thus, liquid traveling upwardly through the bore 5l of the plunger I9 may, when the valve is in open position, that is moved downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1 so as to disengage the valve seat 22, the liquid will pass through the openings 34 into the space 35 around the valve face of the head 32 into the space 3S, the liquid thus being bypassed so as to wash the faces of the valve and the valve sea-t. This liquid may then pass through .the openings 31 line into the interior of the pump barrel I8. It will be noted that when the rod 21 moves downwardly the valve head 32 will be forced downwardly off of its seat and the lower part of the member 52 will be guided through to snug fit in the member 20 while the stem portion 25 will be guided by a snug t in the neck 24. As this downward movement continues the nut 29 will engage the end of the member 24 and thus the plunger will be forced downwardly. It will be noted that the valve 32 is moved off of its seatv before the plunger begins its downward movement. On the reverse movement of the rod 21 the head 32 will be brought into engagement with the face 22 and then the plunger will be lifted or moved upwardly. During the movement of the valve 32 as described, valves positioned below the same will also be functioning.

As shown in Fig. 2 the lower end of the plunger I9 is bored out to provide a cylinder 40. Threaded into the lower end of this tubular portion or cylinder 4e is a retaining nut 4|, the inner end face 42 of which serves as a valve seat. An outwardly extending shoulder 43 bears against the end face of the cylinder portion- 4|! to provide a seal additional to the threads. A central bore 44 is formed through the member 4|. Slidably positioned in the cylinder 40 is a valve embodying the portion 45 which fits as a snug t in the cylinder 4G and which is provided, on its lower` end, with the reduced portion 46 through which are formed the openings 41 above the lower end or head 4B. The end face of this end or head 48 serves as a valve face for engaging against the valve face 42 of the retaining nut 4|. Around the portion 46 within the cylinder 40 is a space 49. The upper end of the member 45 is cut away to provide the space 50. The purpose of cutting away this portion as at 50 is to prevent any binding of the member 45 in its slidable movements in the cylinder or marks resulting from burring resulting from contact ofthe end with the end faces of the cylinder, 4|).

In operation, when the rod 21 is moved downwardly and the plunger I9 moves downwardly the liquid below the member 4| entering the bore 44 will force the valve 45 to move upwardly off of its seat and the liquid thus will be permitted to bypass around the valve head 48 into the space 49 through the openings 41 into the bore 45 and thus into the bore In this movement the valve seat and the valve face are again washed with the liquid. It will be noted that this valve is free for rotary movement and that it is not positively operated, that is it is not positively removed from its seat and returned to its seat. On the reverse or upward movement of the plunger I9 the valve 45 will move downwardly into closing position as shown in Fig. 2. Experience has shown that the valve 45 will close slightly ahead of the closing of the valve 32, whereas the valve 32 will open prior to the opening of the valve 45.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated a tting 52 threaded on the end of the pump barrel or cylinder |8 and threaded on the lower end of this tting 52 is a cup shaped valve cage 53 having a threaded neck 54 projecting outwardly therefrom and through which extends a passage 55 centrally of the base of the cup shaped structures to provide a valve face 55. Slidably mounted in this member 53 as a snug t is a valve structure embodying the portion 51 terminating in a reduced portion |51 having a head YGil adapted to engage the valve seat 56 and form a valve therein. This reduced portion |51 is provided with openings 59 whereby the bore 58 is brought into communication with the space 6| surrounding the reduced portion |51. Extended through the tting 52 is the bore |52.

Threaded on the neck 54 is another cup shaped structure r valve cage 63 which terminates in a head 64 having an opening 65 formed therethrough. Slidably mounted in this cage 63 is a valve structure embodying the portion 56 which snugly engages in slidable relation the inner face of the valve cage 63 and which is provided on its lower end with the reduced portion 61 having openings 69 formed therethrough communicating with the space 68 surrounding the portion 61. The base 1B forms a valve head which is adapted to bear against the valve face 1| of the head 64.

In operation when the rod 21 is moved down-A the space 5| and through the openings 59 into.

the bore 58 and the bore or passage 52 into the interior pump barrel I8. It will be noted that in the case of both of the valve structures 66 and 51 the liquid is bypassed around the valve or face and the seat and the face of the valve and the seat are thus washed with the liquid. Experience has shown that this type of bypassing the liquid ermits a greater volume of flow than is possible with conventional types of valves now used in pump structures and particularly those used for pumping oil from oil wells, or deep water wells, due to larger cross section area of openings.

The combination of the positively operated valve 32 and the freely movable valve structure has proven most eflicient in breaking a gas lock in an oil well. This is due largely to the fact that the liquid is bypassed in the manner already disclosed relieving the weight of liquid on the valve structure. In this connection attention is directed to the variation in the areas of the various parts such as the parts 2|, 23, 25, 3|, 35 and 24. These parts are so constructed and arranged as to reduce the effected area that the gas pressure acts on and thus by balancing these pressures from above and below the formation of a gas lock is practically eliminated.

It will be noted that the construction is such that the valve construction 32 may be removed upon disconnecting the plunger 9 and the cylinder portion 20. Likewise the valve structure 45 may be removed and replaced by removing the retaining nut 4|.

Te valve structures 53 and 65 may likewise be easily removed and replaced by unthreading the valve cage 53 or the member 63.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a slightly modied form of the structure illustrated in Fig. 3. The member 52 corresponds to the member 52 illustrated in Fig. 3 and is provided with the member 62' threaded therethrough. Threaded on the member G2 is atube 12 having an internal shoulder 13 which is adapted to clamp a hardened ring 14 against the end o-f the enlarged neck 15 formed on the tubular member 16. An opening 11 formed in the ring 14 registers with the bore 18 formed in the portion 15. Seating on the face of the ring 14 is the end face of a Valve head 60 which forms a part of the valve structure embodying the portion 51', |51 and the head 60 with the openings 59 formed through the portion |51 and communicating with the space 6 I 'Ihe member 16 is closed by a plug 19 having the bore 65' formed therethrough. The end face 1I of the member 19 forms a valve seat against which the valve head 10 carried by the valve structure embodying the portion 66' and 61' engage, the openings 69' serving as a means for establishing communication between the passage 'I8 and the space 68. The structure illustrated in Fig. 5 merely provides a different form of mounting, the operation and effect being substantially the same as that illustrated in Fig. 3. In Fig. 6 I have illustrated a structure in which the plug 8| with the bore 82 formed therethrough corresponding to the plug 19 of Fig. 5. The end face H of the plug 8| serves as a valve seat for the valve head 10" forming a part of the valve structure involving the parts 66" and 61, this valve structure beingslidably positioned in the tube 80 into one end of which is threaded the plug 8| and into the other end of which is threaded the portion 54. The openings 69" serve as a means of establishing communication between the bore 82 and the space 68".

It is believed obvious that the valve structures illustrated may be used in connection with a standing tube or atraveling tube and that this valve 'structure would render itself for use on a tubing or pump of any design.

What I claim as new is:

l. In a pumping mechanism of the class described, including a liquid conduit; a pump barrel positioned in said conduit; and a tubular plunger snugly engaging in said pump barrel in slidable relation to said pump barrel; the combination of a tubular fitting attached to the upper end of said plunger and forming a continuance thereof; an inwardly projecting circular flange on said fitting intermediate its ends and having a constricted opening formed therethrough; a valve mechanism positioned between said flange and. the end of said plunger and embodying a cup shaped structure, the outer facev of the base of said cup shaped structure being engageable with an end face of said flange and forming a valve for the opening through said flange, said cup shaped structure bearing ad-A jacent one end in snug relation with the inner face of said fitting and being reduced in diameter adjacent its opposite end and in spaced relation with the innerl face of said fitting and having openings formed therein for establishing communication between the interior of saidgcup shaped structure andthe space between said fitting and said reduced end.

2. In a pumping mechanism of the class described, including a liquid conduit; a pump barrel positioned in said conduit;l and a tubular plunger snugly engaging in said pump barrel in slidable relation to said pump barrel; the combination of a tubular fitting attached to the upper end of said plunger and forming a continuance thereof; an inwardly projecting circular flange on said fitting intermediate its ends and having a constricted opening formed therethrough; a valve mechanism positioned between said flange andthe end of said plunger and embodying a cup shaped structure, the outer face of the base of said cup shaped structure being engageable with an end face of said flange and forming a valve for the opening through said flange, said cup shaped structure bearing adjacent one end in snug relation with the inner face of said tting and being reduced in diameter adjacent its opposite end and in spaced relation with the inner face of said fitting and having openings formed therein for establishing communication between the interior of said cup shaped structure and the space between said tting and said reduced end;

and a stem projecting from the outer face of.

said base and projecting beyond the end of said fitting and having a portion engaging the inner face of said fitting for guiding said valve structure in longitudinal movements relatively to said fitting.

3. In a pumping mechanism of Vthe class described, including a liquid conduit; a pump barrel positioned in said conduit; and a tubular plunger slidably mounted in said pump barrel and snugly engaging the inner surface thereof; the combination of a tubular fitting connected to the upper end of said plunger and forming a continuance thereof and bearing adjacent the connected end with the inner surface of said pump barrel in snug relation and reduced in diameter adjacent its upper end and in spaced relation to the inner surface of said pump barrel and provided at said reduced portion with openings for establishing communication between the interior of said fitting and the interior of said pump barrel; an inwardly projecting flange on said fitting between said reduced portion thereof and the connected end thereof for providing a constricted passage through said fitting; a valve mechanism in said tting between said fiange and the connected end of said fitting and having a sealing portion engageable with an end face of said flange for closing the passage through said fiange, said engaging portion being in spaced relation to the inner surface of said fitting; and means on one side of said fitting for guiding said valve mechanism in its movements.

4. In a pump mechanism of the class described, including a tubular pump barrel; the combina.- tion of a substantially cup shaped valve cage connected to one end of said barrel and having an opening formed centrally through its base; a valve positioned in said cage and engageable with one face of said base for closing the opening therethrough; a second substantially cup shaped valve cage on the bottom of said first mentioned valve cage and having an opening formed through its base and a valve mechanism slidably mounted in said second cage for closing the opening therethrough.

5. In a pump mechanism of the class described, including a tubular pump barrel; the combination of a tubular member mounted on one end of said barrel and projecting outwardly therefrom to form a continuance thereof; a shoulder projecting inwardly from the inner surface of said tubular member intermediate its ends; a valve seat forming ring positioned in said tubular member and engaging at one of its faces with said shoulder; a valve positioned in said tubular member and engageable with said valve seat forming member; a valve cage mounted on said tubular member and engaging said valve seat forming member and clamping the same against said shoulder; means for closing the end of said valve cage, said means having an opening formed therethrough; and a valve mounted in said valve cage for controlling said opening.

CHALON E. BRIDWELL. 

